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The Sir John Herschel Collection
The preparation of the print Calendar of the Correspondence of Sir John Herschel (Michael J. Crowe ed., David R. Dyck and James J. Kevin assoc. eds, Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998, viii + 828 pp) which was funded by the National Science Foundation, took ten years. It was accomplished by a team of seventeen professors, visiting scholars, graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and staff working at the University of Notre Dame.
The first online version of Calendar was created in 2009 by Dr Marvin Bolt and Steven Lucy, working at the Webster Institute of the Adler Planetarium, and it is that data that has now been reformatted for incorporation into Ɛpsilon.
Further information about Herschel, his correspondence, and the editorial method is available online here: http://historydb.adlerplanetarium.org/herschel/?p=intro
No texts of Herschel’s letters are currently available through Ɛpsilon.
Has received a series of observations from Thomas Maclear on Alpha1 and Alpha2 Centauri. Comments on these observations and gives results made by the old circle.
Convey his thanks to the King for the Order of Merit. Regrets he did not see the King or AH when they visited London recently. Gives astronomical information.
Should request Mr. Wildes to wait until JH gives his orders. Is gratified by JH's suggestions, but will not regret being passed over. Did not find Lady Herschel's letter at once for various business reasons.
A revised set of proposals for Southern constellation reform [see JH's 1840] to be presented to the next B.A.A.S. meeting.
Pleased that JH can come on the occasion of F. W. Bessel's visit, as W. R. Hamilton, G. B. Airy, and Francis Baily cannot come. Comments regarding Foreign Orders.
Tells CB about a visit by JH and Wolryche Whitmore to the Duke [of ?] to present the case for more government funds for Charles Babbage's calculating machine.
Submit revisions to instructions for conducting and reporting magnetic and meteorological observations.
JH's reasons for requesting three-year extension of magnetic and meteorological survey from British government and H.E.I.C. Preliminary results from global stations.
Is insistent that JH cannot perform the functions of Foreign Secretary [of the R.A.S.] as he has too much to do already, and has had to give up much of his personal scientific correspondence.
Offers to provide committee with plans for and to supervise construction of new instrument, devised by JH, for study of solar spectrum.
Encloses JB's letter [21 Dec. 1841] to Chancellor of Exchequer [H. Goulburn] advocating adoption of metric system. Hopes [members of Standards Commission] will not consider JB obstinate. Admits that JH's opposition to system has advantage of authority and conservatism.
Hopes royal observatory at Cape of Good Hope will relieve Ordnance department. U.S. government agreed to pay for publication of observations there. A. D. Bache favors continuance of hourly meteorological observations in U.S. for one year. G. A. Erman will attend meeting at Cambridge. German translations by ES's wife.
A strong letter on behalf of the provision of financial support for Professor [James David] Forbes, along with JH's personal statement of belief in the need to free distinguished scientists from teaching duties.
About some unfortunate private business, and difficulty with [Francesco] De Vico's star catalogue.
Thanks JH for a copy of a paper on prismatic study of the sun's rays, and for accompanying photographs.
Has passed on GA's note to Edward Sabine; cannot write more because his hand shakes too much, having just made a snow-man for the children.
Sends a letter from Humphrey Lloyd for GA's comments.
Provides extensive comments, about GA's magnetic instruments and observations, in reply to Humphrey Lloyd's letter [see JH's 1842-1-17].
Thanks GA for his comments [see GA's 1842-1-18]; hopes that GA would be willing to have such statements, and other similar statements, made public.
Agrees to having GA's views made public [see JH's 1842-1-18 or later] as JH sees fit; comments on aurora and magnetic storm observations.